Allis154

Thank you.

If RCL did not go crazy with their bottled water price I would just order the package, but they are ridiculous. I do drink ships water, but like to have bottled water getting off at ports. It is just more convenient to have a case in my room.

Last year, on a Celebrity cruise to the great barrier reef, even sealed, bottled water was seized before boarding tenders ashore. This was not seized by celebrity safe, but AU government staff.

Just a heads-up.

We used this last spring when we were in SD. We caught the trolley at the dock and rode it to(near) the zoo. We spent the day there, then rode it back to the dock. Great way to see the city!

....

In the WJ to take all you want, but eat all you take.

Object to this one. I often take a little bit of new things, and I don't like it, don't finish it. The trick is...'a little bit'.

Don't be afraid to try new food, just don't take a full serving (or more) the first time you try it...you can always go back for more!

So it's okay to steal as long as you don't do it in the MDR or restaurants?:mad: Do you teach your kids these methods?

And I wondered about that post about sharing beverage packages too...

Longest single cruise 18 days from Sydney to Honolulu

Longest time on the sruice ship...49 days Sydney to Seattle last year.

Just one more comment...

While in Australia last year, a family member was reporting that their card got scimmed...All the charges were reversed...except the porn...card company said too many times it isn't 'fraud' but embarassment of one partner who is found out!

Your card can simply be in your wallet and have the data stolen off it. No need to use it at all.

Criminals will often wait a long, long time after stealing your info before using the card. Puts distance between the crimes, and makes it harder to track when/where.

I have done ChoiceAir several times. First ones were great, the last few...not so much. My next cruise/flight is booked through ChoiceAir, and if there are issues, it will be my last.

Last year, flight from Seattle to Halifax, booked many months in advance was switched to a different day. Thanksfully, we had loads of time on the ship to get it straightened out.

This past January, flights were completely messed up. We had connecting flights from Fll to Halifax, through New York...our connection flight left hours before we arrived...took forever to get that straightened out!.

Meant to mention what happened to us last year. We were on 4 B2b cruises, and sat at the same table for each cruise. On the third, we arrived to find another couple sitting at 'our' table by the window.

Maitre'd noticed and came over and spoke to the couple. The loudy told him that they wanted the window table and moved the table number plaques. They were on their honeymoon and weren't going to share a table!!!

He nicely asked them to move to their proper table (four top set for two), and explained that the table they were sitting at was assigned to us. They were not happy, but moved, and never came back!

I had this issue in January. I am elite, room-mate is not (select). She got coupons for that level, and I got the elite coupons. I talked with the CC person and he gave me a card for her to show when entering elite events, so I wouldn't have to go with her all the time.

We normally do 2-tops now...we did do larger tables at one time and enjoyed it.

I have only had to change tables once...I was on a 4 week b2b cruise; first 2 weeks with DH and next 2 weeks with friend. We had a two top on the first cruise. behind the table was two couples who complained about EVERYTHING! One the second cruise, we were seatted with them! Nothing doing! Next night, changed to another table, this time a 10-top that was full of 'mis-placed people'...we all came from other tables :) Worked out great!

Last cruise, we had a two top, sandwitched between 2 four tops. The four-tops had 1 couple at each, who sat furthest away from us. Great right? Except they both kept trying to talk to us at the same time! Impossible conversations! Funny though...one couple was fabulous and we had a great time with them...the other was smashed everytime they came in...surprised they could even walk by the time they consumed their many glasses of chamange and wine...

I wouldn't hesitate in changing tables again, and wouldn't think of forgoing the MDR in favour of the buffet every night.

....Finally, Celeb chefs make incredible soups, especially the chilled ones. They're extremely original and good.

Yea...so original I can't a recipe anywhere on the internet or in a cook book for my all time favorite soup...green apple and tangerine :(

For me, the dish I looked forward to was the Green Apple and Tangerine soup. Sadly, no longer served :(

Second dish, which was served on the same night, Spicy Thai spring rolls...yummm

Other knotables:

Crepes in Bistro, chocolate lava cake, any lamb dish, jerk chicken.

Does anyone know how this is handled if you don't get off the ship? Does it still count as visiting the area?

In Canada, we were told that if we don't get off the ship, it doesn't count and we can still give blood.

Best advice, call your blood donation organization...they'll give you your applicable answer.

I heard Honduras will also make you ineligible and I will be there in September. Anyone know if this is true?

This has happened the last couple of times we have been there.

Wedding band is a farely simply affair, we didn't have a lot when we got married. :) I leave the rest on board, but wear it there.

Port safety is always a priority...some ports I won't even take a camera!

Always wear my wedding ring, unless snorkeling (had a fish try to bite me once lol).

As for the dafe, always use it, and never have had a problem. passports, cellphones, wallets, jewellery, currancy..etc...all goes in it.

I do take my 'good stuff' (jewellry) on vacation. I don't get a chance to wear it at home, so it just makes vacations that much more special. I don't worry about losing it. It is very special to me, all of it given to me on special occasions by my DH. However, I wouldn't dream of not wearing it when I have the chance.

Funny reading about the luggage dropping in to the water. When I first saw this thread I thought of a cruise we were on many years ago. The whole cart went in to the drink...no netting in place at the time. Thankfully, not ours. The cruiseline washed and dry cleanned everything they could, but lots of it was ruined.

Learned alot by watching that. Pack in ziplocs!

That's true but fortunately they put the number on your seapass card.

They put your cabin number on the key card???? WOW...talk about a security risk if you lost it on the ship!!! Or a crew member had 'ideas'!!!!

NCL has an interesting trick. The carpeting has fish and the fish are pointing forward. Just follow the fish

Love this idea!

Wow...this was an education. I am taking my first RC cruise next year in a GS. Figured I would tip the conceirge at the end, and the bar staff too. I thought the whole purpose of the 'cruise card' was that it was so your cruise was 'cashless'...now I have to walk around with a wad of $1-$5 in my pocket to ensure that I get service?

I like the idea of an option for an automatic tip for the concierge. I'll have to check into that.

We stayed at the Grace last year for 3 nights, spread a couple weeks apart. loved it! Great staff, great location :)

I can tell you a story that we witnessed last year on the Solstice...we were onboard for some time and got to talk to some of the officers, so some info was from them, others witnessed myself.

Port Douglas, tender port. A family was a few cabins down from us, father, GF, 13 year old, 5 year old and a 2 year old....

Adults tender ashore, leaving the children on board.

Adults miss the last tender back....

Father charters a boat to take him to the ship ,which waited more than 1 hour for him. GF didn't return to ship, father had joint custody of all children, whereas she only had joint custody of the youngest.

The family spent the rest of the night and the next day under 'house arrest'... With security sitting outside of their door.

They were all put ashore at the next port.

Since Haiti is a private island, it isn't likely to happen, but stills bears some consideration. Things happen...that is why they are called 'accidents'.

Allis where can i purchase the Frio bag?

 

 

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I had to order them online. No-one around here carried them.

Love the Frio bags! DH is insulin dependant and we travelled 65 days last year with enough insulin to get us through. Even through the 'red center' to Australia it wasn't a problem.

We have never found it an issue to be diabetic while travelling. You do need to check your sugars more, as generally, you will be more active, and eating different things. But that is just the life of a diabetic.

Didn't think this was new? When I completed my last cruise the end of January, I had an online survery to fill out within a few days of getting home. Guess I was one of the lucky early birds.

I do agree with several of the points made. One week is not long enough. If you cruise was 'same old, same old', it is not likely the survery would be filled out.

I do hope that the probably scewed results (mostly issues being reported, not great service) will not impact the crew with less than 'exceptional' ratings.

For us it depends on the trip. If I book last minute (within a couple of weeks), then no, don't get it.

With elderly parents, we like to be covered for the unexpected. We get cancellation at the very least, and depending on the time of the year and destination, interruption as well.

Never extra medical...we both carry that anyway.